$590M Powerball winner still shops at Walmart

Shopping at Walmart and toting takeout from a local diner, it doesn't seem like life has changed that much for Gloria Mackenzie — the 84-year-old great-grandmother who won a record $590.5 million Powerball lottery jackpot.

Although she could be shopping in Chanel, Gloria — who is the biggest single lottery Powerball winner in U.S. history — instead joined her son Scott, 57, and his boyfriend Jerry Cruz, 65, for dinner at a crab shack near their Florida home.

Gloria — who is sharing her fortune with her son — is still being driven around in Scott's old gold Ford Focus as the enormity of their situation still sinks in.

Scott's ex-wife Ella — who remains close friends with her former husband and his family — revealed Gloria plans to move in with her son and his partner, adding, "I was so pleased for them when I found out they had won, it really is great news."

However, she revealed the winner and her son were fearful for their safety after receiving threatening phone calls.

Insisting that she does not know whether Scott will give her any money, Ella said, "They are all planning to move in together — they should be getting their new place by the end of the month.

"The three of them are going to be living together. Scott wanted to move in with his mom because he was worried about how she would cope on her own."

Gloria, whose husband Ralph died in 2005, was forced to leave the trailer she had called home for 25 years to move into a run-down $30,000 bungalow in the small town of Zephyrhills, Florida, just one year ago.

She had pledged to split the winnings with son Scott, of Jacksonville, Florida, as she was with him when she bought the $2 ticket at a Zephyrhills supermarket on May 18.

Gloria has two sons, Larry and Scott, and two daughters, Melinda — known as Mindy — and Jaimie, alongside grandchildren Matthew, Alex, Scott and Lindsay, and two great-grandchildren, Victoria and Ethan.

Most of her family remain in her home state of Maine and it remains unknown how, or if, she plans to share the jackpot with them.

After being thrust into the spotlight last week, Gloria spent the weekend with Scott and Jerry, and the trio were seen dining at Jacksonville spot Joe's Crab Shack on Sunday — where she ate steam pots that cost $22.99 each.

On Monday, Scott and Gloria were seen visiting a bank and later shopping at Walmart.

They then enjoyed lunch at the Crazy Egg café — where the most expensive item on the menu costs $10.99 — and even asked for a doggy bag of left overs as they departed.

Gloria is now planning to move into a luxury new home in the city of Jacksonville, three hours away, with both Scott and Jerry

According to lottery officials, Gloria opted to receive the lump sum of $278,172,585.40 48 hours after claiming the prize two weeks ago — so her money is already safely locked away in the bank.

Before even coming forward to collect the money, she abandoned her old home and moved into a luxury hotel, where she is staying until her new home is ready.

Ella added, "Jerry is also moving in with them. I don't want to go into their relationship, as that is their business. You should refer to Jerry as Scott's roommate. I think they are probably getting a big house somewhere in the Jacksonville area. They can't stay where they are currently living — it's too small for the three of them."

"I have spoken to him (Scott) a few times," Ella continued. "I don't know if he is giving me any money but it doesn't really matter — if he does he does, if he doesn't he doesn't."

It is believed Scott and Gloria went into hiding on the advice of their lawyers after receiving world-wide media attention following their win.

They have been hiding out in a hotel in Northern Florida, while Jerry remains at the single-story home he shares with Scott, looking after their dog.

Ella, who still lives in the same small, rundown bungalow she shared with Scott in Jacksonville, said, "Scott and Gloria are obviously excited about the money but it is a lot to take in.

"They have been concerned about their safety and have received a number of threatening phone calls.

"One man with a gravely voice even called to tell them they were in danger, which was very strange. The lawyers told them to go into hiding. It is such a large sum of money, so you never know what might happen, they have to be careful."

Ella and Scott grew up in small country towns just eight miles part in Maine and married when they were in their twenties after being introduced by mutual friends.

They moved to Jacksonville a few years later after Ella got a job in the Navy.

Scott worked a number of low-level factory jobs before retiring from his position, latterly as a warehouse worker depot in St Augustine, Florida.

According to friends, the pair divorced but stayed friends after Scott came out as gay about ten years ago.

Ella, who works at shipping firm Crowley Maritime in Jacksonville, said, "I don't want to go into our relationship. We divorced ten years ago but we are still friends. He told me about the win on the Sunday before they went public to prepare me for the media attention. It has obviously been crazy since then and I have been contacted by hundreds of different people."

Jerry, whose full name is Gerardo Cruz, is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, and spent most of his life working for transportation company CSX Transportation until he retired in 2007.

According to the electoral roll, he has lived in the same small property as Scott since 2010.

A friend said, "Scott and Ella are still on good terms. They divorced about 10 years ago because Scott is gay. He is now living with his partner Jerry. They are both very nice and live a quiet, simple life."

Neighbor Britney Ward said, "I don't know them too well. They seem nice but quite quiet. Scott lives there with the other guy who is his partner."

After discovering she had won the lottery, Gloria at first went to stay with Scott and Jerry, telling her neighbors in Zephyrhills she was sick.

Mother and son, who made a pact to split the winnings, then spent two weeks preparing for the future with the help of financial advisers, before claiming their prize.

Gloria's winning numbers, using random selection, were 10, 13, 14, 22 and 52, with a Powerball of 11.

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Great story!! Some much personal information though. I must admit that I enjoyed reading it all.

I don't find it strange that she still shops at Walmart, eats in affordable restuarants or is driven around in her son's Ford Focus (nice car by the way). People are going to do what they are used to doing. She just received the money so give her some time to get a Bentley and hang out with Donald Trump.

The main thing to me is not to have so many toys but to have financial security (not have to worry about the lack of money). I post pictures of my dream houses and cars all the time but that isn't really important. What is important is getting your time and freedom back and feeling secure (financially) about your future.

Nothing wrong with shopping at Walmart either. They have everything you need for the house at great prices. Except now she's a celebrity and will get alot of attention.

Great story!! Some much personal information though. I must admit that I enjoyed reading it all.

I don't find it strange that she still shops at Walmart, eats in affordable restuarants or is driven around in her son's Ford Focus (nice car by the way). People are going to do what they are used to doing. She just received the money so give her some time to get a Bentley and hang out with Donald Trump.

The main thing to me is not to have so many toys but to have financial security (not have to worry about the lack of money). I post pictures of my dream houses and cars all the time but that isn't really important. What is important is getting your time and freedom back and feeling secure (financially) about your future.

Nothing wrong with shopping at Walmart either. They have everything you need for the house at great prices. Except now she's a celebrity and will get alot of attention.

maybe someone needs to tell her walmart will bring anything you need right to you front door just 1 click away and then she won't be wasting her gas going there